Automobile signal



y 1931- E. N. HOCKETT 1,813,851

AUTOMOB ILE S I GNAL Filed Dec. 22, 1925 Inventor ZTMJYOCWW? 1 14 ztorney Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Application filed December 22, 1925. Serial No. 77,017.

My present invention pertains to automobile signals constructed with a View to enabling the driver of an automobile to communicate his intentions to a driver behind him; and it contemplates the provision of a signal of simple and inexpensive construction, easy to install, reliable in operation and possessed of the practical advantages hereinafter ascribed to it.

lVith the foregoing in mind, the invention in all of its details will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a view diagrammatic in character, illustrating the best practical embodiment of my invention of which I am cognizant.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail section showing the base of the improvement and the part carried thereby.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail elevation of the portion of the improvement designed to be carried at the rear end of an automobile.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, a base 1, preferably of insulating material, is appropriately supported just under and to the left of the steering wheel of an automobile. Carried by the said base are terminals 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, Figures 1 and 2. The terminals 2, 3 and 4 in connection with a hand lever 9 constitute a three point switch, and by comparison of Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that the lever 9 is electrically connected at 10 with a movable bar 11, and that the said connection 10 is connected by a conductor 12 with the terminal 5. The bar 11 is normally maintained in the position shown in Figure 2 by a spring 13, the bar 11 in said position contacting with the terminal 8, and the contact plate 7 a: on the button 8% below the bar 11 being spaced from the terminal 7 and also from the terminal 9% connected by conductor 100: with. the terminal 8. On the bar 11 is a finger piece 14 by which it may be moved against the action of the spring 13 to enable the plate 700 to electrically connect the terminals 7 and 9m. Manifestly, however, when the bar 11 is relieved of pressure, the spring 13 will operate to promptly return the bar 11 to its position in contact with the terminal 8. The horn button 800 is movable in a pedestal guide 112? and superposed upon a spring 12% as shown in Figure 2.

At 14% in Figure 1, is a source of electric energy, one side of which is grounded at 15 and the other side of which is electrically connected at 16 to the terminal 8. Electrically connected at 19 with the terminal 7 is an electric horn 20, grounded at 21. From this it follows that when the conductive bar 11, possessed of resiliency, is depressed, and the button 80; is moved downwardly by the same, the horn 20 will be supplied with current and sounded; also, that when the bar 11 is in contact with the terminal 8 and the button Spa is in raised position, the horn 20 will be silent.

The portion of my improvement to be carried at the rear end of an automobile is in the form of a unit as shown in Figure 3, the said unit including a body 30, a central compartment 31, and compartments 32, 33, 34 and 35 grouped about the central compartment 31 and spaced apart so as to present a general cruciform appearance. The compartment 32 is a red light compartment, the same being brought about by preference by the employment of a red lens 32%, while the compartments 33, 3e and 35 are blue light compartments being so characterized by the employment of blue lenses 33% as shown conventionally in Figure 1.

The incandescent electric lamp 36 of the compartment 32 is grounded at 37 and is electrically connected at 38, Figure 1, with the terminal 6. Thus when the switch member 3800 is moved into contact with the terminal 5,'the filament of the lamp 36 will be caused to glow, the switch at 3850 being pro vided in order that the compartment 32 may be readily put in and out of commission. Manifestl when the switch member 38112 is in comet with the term al .5 curre t will pass from the source of energy through the conductor 16, the terminal 8, the conductive bar 11, the conductor 12, the terminal 5, the switch member 3802, the terminal 6 and the conductor 38 to the filament of the lamp 36 and from the said filament to the ground at From this it follows that when the compartment 32 is in commission, and the horn 20' is sounded by the depression of thebar 11, the glowing of the filament in the lamp 36 will be stopped, and that said glow-ing will be re-established when the bar 11 is released to stop sounding of the horn. Manifestly by the means described the horn may be sounded and the lamp 36 put'on and oflby the same means,viz; the bar 11 in a. manner calculatedq audibly and visually to attract the attention of a following motorist. V

The lamp 41 is'to serve secondarily for the illumination of a license plate designated by 450 and relatively arranged as shown in Figure .1. Thel'amp 41 is grounded at 42, and its filament is connected by aconductor 43 with a switch terminal 43:10, the complement 44mof which is connected by conductor 15m,

' with the terminal 8. Thus in the night time the lamp, almay biz-maintained in commiss1on.' V

The lamp of the compartment 33 is desi nated, by 50,,that of the compartment 34 by 51, and that of the compartment 35 by 52. The filament of the lamp is electrically connected to the ground by. the conductor 53, and said filament is connected by a conductor 54 with the terminal 4. Thus when cally connected by a conductor 61 with the terminal 3. Thus when the lever 9 is in contact with said terminal 3, they filament of the lamp in the compartment 34 will be caused to glow, and the intention of the driver of the automobile to proceed forwardly willbe made patent. The filament of the lamp 52-. complementary to the compartment 35 is groundedat and is connected by a conductor 71 with the terminal 2. From this it follows that when the lever 9 is moved into contact with the terminal 2, the filament of the lamp 52 will be caused to glow, and hence the com artment 35 will indicate the intention o the driver to make a right turn.

The blue lights of compartments 33, 34 and 35 in association with the centrrilredtail light andthependent; red stop light will serve to enhance the appearance, of an automobile.

in the'night time, and the said blue light-S are also advantageous inasmuch as they will not give rise to any glare.

It will be understood from the foregoingv that when the driver of, an; automobilev equipped with my improvementfwishes to compartments 38 and 35 are arranged above thehorizontal center of the body 30, to afford ample space for the proper illumination of the license plate or number plate 40. The red light of compartment 31 is preferably brought about by the employment of. a red lens, and therefore for the adequate'ih lumination of the license or number plate 40, I provide in the shell of the compartment 31 a mica covered or otherwise appropriately covered opening 75, said opening 7.5 being so disposed as to direct a beam oflight laterally over the face of the plate 40.

In accordance with my invention'the red tail lamp ll when put into commission will glow steadily at all times, and in this connection I would have it further understood that the blue light compartments 33 and 34 and 35, and the pendent red stop light compartment 32 areall intended to be used in the day time as well as in the night time.

I would also have it understood that they spaces of the said unit between the compartment34 on the one hand, and the compartments33 and 35, on the other, are occupied with an appropriate filling which may be of any description. compatible with the purpose of my invention.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by virtue of the visual and audible means comprised in my invention, the driver of an automobile will be enabled to adequately inform a following driver of intentions with respect to stopping and proceeding forwardly with the equipped automobile and the turning of the same either toward the left or to-' which changes in construction and arrange-V ment maybe madev without departure from mfinvention. I

f -V1115;dt /slfillh ttd. myfinventlon, what. I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In an automobile signal a plurality of signal lamps and a source of current, a horn, circuits and selective switching means for including any of said lamps in circuit with the source of current, said means also including switching means having a circuit closing member biased to a closed circuit position for opening the selected circuit and for thereafter closing the horn circuit.

2. The combination in an electric automobile signal, of a source of electric energy, an electric horn, a base, a terminal electrically connected with the source of energy and carried by said base, a terminal carried by the base and electrically connected with the horn, a conductive manually movable member normally maintained in yielding manner in contact with the source of energy terminal and movable out of said contact, means whereby when said conductive member is movable out of contact with the source of energy terminal electric connection is effected between the source of energy terminal and the terminal electrically connected with the horn, left and right electric lamps, terminals electrically connected with said lamps, and a single conductive lever electrically connected with said manually movable conductive member and movable into contact with the lamp terminals selectively; said lamp terminals and lever being also carried by said base.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELMER N. HOCKETT. 

